From The Beginning of Time

Manifest Destiny, in its many forms, existed throughout history. It
controlled America's destiny and was responsible for man's travels
throughout history. With this said, America would not be America without
the phenomenon of Manifest Destiny. The philosophy that built American
history was the rationalization that expansionists everywhere used to
justify territorial growth. Some used the Manifest Destiny Doctrine as
a political philosophy stressing tradition and social stability, while
others used it as a simple reason to explore new lands. Expansionist
experienced minimal interference of governmental institutions in private
economic activities with Manifest Destiny leading their way.

Americans used Manifest Destiny as their proclamation of superiority
and insisted that their conquests merely fulfilled the divine mission that
man is impelled by forces beyond human control. Manifest Destiny was
responsible for creating American history. Without it, American territory
would be as big as the property surrounding its first settlement. It was
the movement responsible for American Independence and American expansion.
Because of the notion of Manifest Destiny, America's drive to explore and
conquer new lands will never die.